Lawyer Akoto Ampaw, a private legal practitioner, has passed away. He died at a hospital after a brief illness. Family sources report that he was admitted for treatment but sadly, his condition worsened, leading to his passing in the Intensive Care Unit.
Reports state that he passed away in the early hours of Friday, October 20, at the University of Ghana Medical Center (UGMC).
Akoto Ampaw was an experienced lawyer who worked at a well-known law firm called Akufo-Addo Prempeh and Co. He became a Partner in the firm, which was founded by President Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Edmund Prempeh.
One of the important cases he handled was the John Dramani Mahama versus Electoral Commission and Nana Akufo-Addo case. This involved the 2020 Presidential Election where John Dramani Mahama, the candidate from the National Democratic Congress, questioned the election results. Mr. Ampaw led a legal team that successfully defended President Akufo-Addo’s win.
Akoto Ampaw gained attention when he helped Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who led the Fix the Country movement, to get released on bail. Barker-Vormawor was facing serious charges.
This highlighted Ampaw’s strong dedication to human rights, as he worked at the President’s law firm and still defended someone accused of trying to remove the President from power.
In 2010, he managed to convince the High Court to drop charges against ex-Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani and former CEO of Ghana @ 50 secretariat Dr. Charles Wereko Brobbey. They were accused of causing the state financial loss based on a report from an investigation.
Mr. Ampaw asked the court to throw out the charges, saying it wasn’t right to accuse based solely on a Commission of Inquiry’s findings. This case is still a significant example in legal matters concerning Commissions of Inquiry and how their findings hold legal weight.
“In Everyday Life”
Outside the courtroom, Akoto Ampaw strongly supported human rights. He often worked with organizations like the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development to protect basic freedoms. Recently, he joined a team of prominent advocates in opposing a proposed Anti-Gay bill that has yet to be passed by parliament.
In the early 1990s, he played a significant role in the Movement for Freedom and Justice. This group, founded by Prof Albert Adu-Boahen, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Kweku Baako, Nana Akufo-Addo, and others, fought for the return of democracy in Ghana.